Port Richey - Day 6Feb 18, 2009
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We began with a boat ride
We had another fun day today. The weather was perfect again, although just a tad windy, but that keeps the bugs from eating us. Have I mentioned how awful the bites from the no-seeums are? OMG- They itch so bad you want to scratch them raw.
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We decided to head to Homosassa, a little town north of Port Richey. We went to the Wild Animal Park there which promised us manatees. It is a wonderful park with lots of animals and birds, including a small collection of manatees.
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We started our tour of the park on a boat ride down the Pepper River which winds around the park. Homosassa is Indian for "place where peppers grow". Along the way, we saw an alligator, some birds and lots of thick jungle. The park covers several acres and contains all animals and birds indigenous to Florida with the exception of a 49 year old hippo. When the park was first started, they intended to get rid of the hippo but they couldn't find a good home for her since she weighs 6000 lbs - not the easiest thing to move. So, she remains a part of the Wild Life Park.
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After about a 20 minute boat ride, we were left off at the entrance to the exhibits to walk through. In the center of this part of the park is a large island filled with all kinds of birds: flamingos, sand hill cranes, turkey vultures, several kinds of pelicans, herons, swans and ducks. It was just amazing. There was no netting over the top of the island and the birds were free to come and go. They were all so beautiful. The sand hill cranes were very vocal as were the flamingos.
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Camille and I laughed at the flamingos which reminded us of a group of drag queens. They were just gorgeous. Their faces and bills looked like they were all heavily made up. Their color is not pink as all the pictures show but shades of brilliant salmon and pale peach. They strutted around with their noses in the air and stood together in a group and complained loudly to each other, often all picking on one of the smaller ones. The only things missing were the cigarette holder and the martini glass.
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We watched a couple of volunteers who showed us a horned owl and a red-tailed hawk, both of which were just spectacular. We walked through the exhibits and saw wolves, eagles, owls, bears, foxes and gators - lots of gators. We bypassed the building containing all of the reptiles, but we were told there are six poisonous snakes in Florida among the dozens that live here.
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Then we went to see the manatee show. Part of the park's water system contains a huge underground spring which keeps the water temperature where the manatees live at a constant 72 degrees. There are six female manatees in the park which are contained within the park boundaries by fencing. We saw a volunteer go into the water with the manatees and feed them carrots and sweet potatoes. They are most closely related to an elephant. They have a walrus looking face and are vegetarians. They have a prehensile upper lip that they use to pick up veggies and grasses from the bottom of the river. It was such a thrill to see them up close and personal, although Camille was hoping to be able to swim with them.
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We ended the day with fried chicken and other goodies from the store, so that no one had to cook, a couple of bottles of champagne and cream puffs with ice cream for dessert. Pretty decadent and pretty damn nice.
